Before I go any further, let me make something abundantly clear. I'm old. I REMEMBER when Reggie White and Randall Cunningham left. I remember when the Philadelphia Eagles ditched the Kelly Green jersey and the Midnight Green ensemble was introduced as its replacement. I remember when Brian Dawkins was drafted. I remembered when he walked and was introduced as a Denver Bronco.
I'm built to endure loss, but that doesn't mean it doesn't often hurt when it happens. In a few months, Jason Kelce, Fletcher Cox, DeSean Jackson, and Nick Foles retired. I felt something when each made their announcement.
Here we go again... Free agency... Rosters receive facelifts. Familiar faces leave. It's happening in the Eagles secondary.
Slay and James Bradberry are expected to be released. Isaiah Rodgers will join the Minnesota Vikings. Shortly after learning that, C.J. Gardner-Johnson was mentioned as part of a trade package.
They weren't here very long, but we've grown fond of Rodgers and C.J. G.J., and by the looks of things, the feeling appears to be mutual.
Eagles news: C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Isaiah Rodgers say goodbye
Often, we say 'all these guys care about is money' and athletes are spoiled etcetera. We reduce them to Fantasy points and Madden ratings, but they're people. Each one of them has a story.
Isaiah Rodgers and C.J. G.J. both offered farewells to a nation on Birds fans, doing so by way of social media.
'It's a business' they say, but this game is also about family. C.J. and Isaiah have more than earned their wings. So, yes, we bid them farewell for now, but they leave us as champions. They're woven into this Eagles fabric now forever.
More Eagles news: Miles Sanders time in Carolina has ended.
Speaking of free agency, it was this same time of year in 2023, almost two years ago, that Miles Sanders left the nest as a 2022 Pro Bowler to sign a four-year, $25.4 million contract to join the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, NC.
He has unfortunately been informed of his release. Things didn't go too well in Charlotte. He started seven of 27 regular-season games and notched 637 yards and three TDs on 184 carries.
He added another 302 yards and a receiving TD on 51 receptions. We wish him well as he seeks a news home. We're pulling for him though we know a reunion with the Birds is certainly unlikely.